Happy Thanksgiving!

So it's that time of year again here in the US--time for us to gain another 10 pounds, and to start thinking about what we're thankful for.

I started thinking about this recently and it occurred to me that in a very real way, one of the things I'm thankful for is WoW. I hate to sound like a sap, of course, and I know that there are some people out there who have met friends, significant others, even spouses via WoW--or people who have real social lives thanks to WoW friends, etc. I read those stories and I can't help but smile. But that's not my story. My story is a little different.

When I was in high school I had already decided I wanted to go into the music industry. I learned a bunch of different instruments, and became passable at a few of them (I still take out the guitar now and then). Now, I grew up in Southern California, and living that close to Hollywood you have no illusions about your chances of "making it" in the entertainment world. I knew that I was only mildly talented to begin with, and I had seen plenty of people who were more talented than me go through their whole lives and never being able to make a career in music. So rather than playing for a living, I resolved that I was going to learn to record, and become a recording engineer.

Now at about this time I had bought my own computer for the first time. I bought a Mac, because most of the recording industry (at the time at least) seemed to be made up of Mac users, and I wanted to make sure that my system was compatible. So I bought my brand new PowerBook, and I loved it--but suddenly all of my old games were gone. Aside from flash games on the Internet, and some old ROMs I had collected, I had nothing to play. I'd been a gamer all my life, and suddenly I had made the decision to abandon games in favor of work. Only one game company that I knew of released their games for both PC and Mac on the same disks--and that was Blizzard.

During this time I played two games, and two games only: Diablo II and Warcraft III. I had just splurged on an admittedly overpriced computer, I couldn't afford to buy games from the Mac catalog. All I could do was find the few games I had that were already Mac compatible, and play those. To this day I'm very thankful that Blizzard releases their games on PCs and Macs simultaneously.

Well, I was not an MMO player before WoW came out. I had been fascinated by games like Ultima Online and Everquest, but never enough to cough up a monthly fee. A few of my friends had started playing WoW, and had started bugging me to join them ("You'll love it! It's just like Diablo!"). I resisted for a LONG time, until my birthday finally came around. My friend Nabterayl, a WoW player, was moving away to go to law school. Before he did, he gave me a birthday present: a copy of World of Warcraft. I don't remember what the card said exactly, but I do remember that it had a picture on it of a quaint, coastal village. The inside of the card said "I know that as we grow up we're going to have less and less free time. Hopefully, this gift will help us spend just a little bit more of it together. This card reminds me of Shadowprey Village. You and I should visit there sometime."

I took a long time levelling, and we had characters on different servers. I settled into Horde, while he stuck to his Alliance main. Months, even years went by. But the day finally came when he and I went off to run Maraudon together, and we both flew in to the Shadowprey Village flight point. I had forgotten completely about the card he sent me, but while I was fussing around on my mage summoning water, he demanded that I stop what I was doing and walk with him out to the end of the Shadowprey docks. Once we were there he said to me, "We made it, old friend. We're finally here."

Now while this was happening, I worked a number of different jobs. I worked at Guitar Center, I went to trade school and got certified (never graduated college), and worked for a while at a big-time recording studio in Hollywood, fetching coffee for Audioslave and Chaka Khan. But after three or four months (right about the time I was upgraded from "intern" to "real job", the studio went bankrupt and was forced to close. I was a wreck. After all, if one of the biggest recording studios in the world--the place where the Beach Boys recorded Pet Sounds--couldn't make enough money to stay open, what chance did I have? What kind of a business was I getting into?

I was in crisis. I found another job for a little while editing sound effects for cartoons (Did anybody watch Transformers: Cybertron? Yeah...um, that was me). But after a few months of doing it, the work ran out there too--and I was unceremoniously sent home, knowing that if I had done better, they might have found more work for me to do. I couldn't find work in music, I couldn't find work in audio...eventually I just settled for finding work at all, and even that wasn't easy.

I kicked around working random odd jobs for a year, maybe more. I worked the ticket booth at an outdoor theater. I did afterschool daycare for a while. I checked Craigslist daily. Finally I applied to a temp agency at the nearest place I could find, figuring that all that WoW meant I could probably type fast enough to get a reception job somewhere. After a few different gigs with the temp agency they sent me off to do data entry to a company I had never heard of, called the ZAM Network.

After that things become a blur. Apparently I impressed the people at ZAM enough that they decided to hire me full-time, and started expanding my responsibilities beyond simple data entry. I started working on actual content, and when Wowhead joined the team I became the new Community/Content Manager. It was, and still is, the first real job I've ever had. Now I have an apartment, a car, a real job, and a happily wedded wife--I have a life now, of my very own. And in a very bizarre but very real way, it's all because of WoW.

Let me say that again: I have a life thanks to WoW.

How's that for counterintuitive?

I am very, very thankful to Blizzard, to my friends and family, and to my fellow players, every day. So now I ask you, at the risk of sounding cliche: What are you thankful for? How has WoW affected your life in ways you never thought were possible?

Comentarios

Comentario de Blackboy0

on 2008-11-27T14:42:34-06:00

I'm thankful to my parents, for getting me my Computer and standing by me. With mah Computer, I've learnt PHP, HTML, CSS, a bit of Java and I am getting into C++. With this, I hope to become a Computer Programmer with either Microsoft, or maybe even join Blizzard and see how I can make World of Warcraft a better game.

When I read your Post, Malgayne, I was sincerely touched by it. I think a lot more people other than you have WoW to thanks for most (if not all) of their lives.Then there are those people you meet that just play it because it's a game. I think the people that have been moved & helped by WoW understand & enjoy it more, because they know what it's done in their lives.

Comentario de Fizzles

on 2008-11-27T14:58:29-06:00

I have 7 words for you.What a long, strange trip it's been.

EDIT: I'm simply thankful for my friends, even those who have more than likely forgotten me on my old server.I really miss them, and I'm thinking of going back... Back to the glory days. Back to where it all started, 3 years ago.

Comentario de blademeld

on 2008-11-27T15:01:50-06:00

Hand Turkey.

Comentario de Blackboy0

on 2008-11-27T15:03:18-06:00

Hand Turkey.

Nothing better :P

Comentario de Maurice119

on 2008-11-27T15:23:01-06:00

I'm thankful to my parents, for getting me my Computer and standing by me. With mah Computer, I've learnt PHP, HTML, CSS, a bit of Java and I am getting into C++. With this, I hope to become a Computer Programmer with either Microsoft, or maybe even join Blizzard and see how I can make World of Warcraft a better game.

I have a pretty-much-crap laptop. The only thing I can run on it, are Blizzard games, and anything earlier than 2001. So, what can I do when I can't game? I'm learning to program C++ myself. I hope I will become very skilled with it, and now for the fixed quote:

With this, I hope to become a Computer Programmer with either Microsoft, or maybe even join Blizzard and see how I can make World of Warcraft a better game.

Comentario de Fennrahn

on 2008-11-27T15:23:07-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

/hugs

I'm thankful for having a family, and being blessed with a charmed enough life to enjoy WoW.

And WoW strangely HAS affected my life. WoW has improved my basic sense of courtesy.

Yeah, I know, everyone's always saying "WOW RUINS PEOPLES LIVES AND MAKES THEM BECOME CRAZY SUPER IMPOLITE PEEPUL!11one." But they're just wrong. I have started wishing people I know nice days (even the ones I don't know too well-- or at all), among other things. Also, when my friends play WoW with me, it helps us become better friends, like those crappy trust exercises that you've been forced to do-- just with this actually working.

Comentario de Blackboy0

on 2008-11-27T15:43:07-06:00

I'm thankful to my parents, for getting me my Computer and standing by me. With mah Computer, I've learnt PHP, HTML, CSS, a bit of Java and I am getting into C++. With this, I hope to become a Computer Programmer with either Microsoft, or maybe even join Blizzard and see how I can make World of Warcraft a better game.

I have a pretty-much-crap laptop. The only thing I can run on it, are Blizzard games, and anything earlier than 2001. So, what can I do when I can't game? I'm learning to program C++ myself. I hope I will become very skilled with it, and now for the fixed quote:

With this, I hope to become a Computer Programmer with either Microsoft, or maybe even join Blizzard and see how I can make World of Warcraft a better game.

Haha alright, I might join Blizzard. Microsoft is sort of going downhill, and I'd rather work for Blizz than them. Though I'll need a job before hand, because Blizz demands a 3(I think)-year job before working for them.

Comentario de Skyfire

on 2008-11-27T19:52:26-06:00

What are you thankful for? How has WoW affected your life in ways you never thought were possible?

I'm thankful to be succeeding at a world-class (if not world-renowned) college in my freshman year, and I'm thankful that it's a place where I can be who I want to be and have friends that are just like that. It doesn't matter here if you like SSB Brawl or WoW or playing the violin or going out and running in circles for hours; you're who you are. It's the norm, and I certainly am grateful for that.

While we're near that subject, I'm thankful to be a lover of life. I like to think I see the world in a positive light; I laugh at jokes nobody else will, I'll poke fun at others, and I'll make sure people are up rather down (and help those that are down get back up). Conversely, I'm also thankful my mother instilled in me values like these; it makes life all the better.

I'm thankful I quit WoW a long time ago. I learned what it means to even have the slightest addiction, and it makes me all the more wary of going down that path toward more harmful substances; alcohol, substance abuse, and gambling, something that my familial line is susceptible too. I'm thankful to have met the people associated with WoW, for without them:

I'm thankful to be allowed to blog and moderate here at Wowhead and admin over at WoWWiki. The people working here at Wowhead are some of the most awesomest people, and the community one of the better ones to be found on the Internet (yes, even you guys in Randomness... weirdos). Strange as being thankful for this may sound, I know I've not gotten to stick around because I'm the most lovable person ever. ;)

I think there's something to WoW. I just don't have the time for it at the moment, and I'm thankful that I don't. Life will have its twists and turns, but our path leads straight and true. Get stuck on the wrong bend? Be thankful someone will driveby that will put you back on the straightaway.

Comentario de Hungryshadow

on 2008-11-27T20:33:00-06:00

I have 7 words for you.What a long, strange trip it's been.

Eureka!

Well done, Casey.

Happy Thanksgiving =)

Comentario de Slyfox101

on 2008-11-27T21:08:19-06:00

There is no doubt that WoW has changed the life of mine and several other million people's.

It is a landmark in life in which you can say that a game that you've played for over 4 years has changed your life, for the better.

I can honestly say that without the internet or WoW, I would not be nearly as intelligent or sincere as a person that I am today, and I am extremely thankful for all of the work and dedication that every member of Blizzard, and all of their players really, have put forth to help.

I have been a faithful Blizzard gamer since Warcraft: O&H, and to be sitting here today still enjoying every moment of Blizzard's new games makes me even happier than you could imagine.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone, play on. :)

Comentario de Ironarm

on 2008-11-27T21:57:22-06:00

Excellent post! It's great to hear where you have come from and the amazing influence a simple (well not that simple) game can have on you.

I am thankful of many things, most especially my partner with whom I have had many adventures (virtual and otherwise).

Comentario de Interest

on 2008-11-27T22:03:08-06:00

Let me say that again: I have a life thanks to WoW.

You might just be one of the first.

On another note, nice blog and Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

(DIdn't eat turkey this year)

Comentario de Laecell

on 2008-11-27T22:11:50-06:00

Merry Thanksgiving every1

Comentario de Cannic

on 2008-11-27T23:46:48-06:00

Cool stroy brah,

No but honestly i really can't wait to see what Wow has in store for me. As a pretty new player i've made Wow a part of my life and i really enjoy my time on it and have learned a lot from playing it even tho I'm not to sure it'll make any major progress in my life I'm sure it will grow with me as i make progress myself

Comentario de Xaverri

on 2008-11-28T04:43:23-06:00

This blog made me feel warm inside :)

/spread the love

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I am thankful for WoW as it brought me to my current guild, filled with the most wonderful and cheery people around, can't wait to meet m all next year :)

Also, I am thankful for cats. Why? Because they're cats :)

-X-

Comentario de meanball

on 2008-11-28T05:03:32-06:00

he demanded that I stop what I was doing and walk with him out to the end of the Shadowprey docks. Once we were there he said to me, "We made it, old friend. We're finally here."

...i nearly cried

Comentario de Fizzles

on 2008-11-28T07:18:38-06:00

he demanded that I stop what I was doing and walk with him out to the end of the Shadowprey docks. Once we were there he said to me, "We made it, old friend. We're finally here."

...i nearly criedI did.

Comentario de Epsilon7

on 2008-11-28T08:05:58-06:00

most lives are ruined by this game.

Comentario de Maurice119

on 2008-11-28T09:14:03-06:00

most lives are ruined by this game.

Most people with a very weak spirit ruined their own lives with this game. But I'm thankful for that I didn't ruin my life.

Comentario de Soujiro89

on 2008-11-28T10:01:08-06:00

Your story really got me.

Well maybe I'm not thankfull for blizzard, since WoW It's kind of an addiction to me, and maybe I didn't got any good thing out of it, except some friends in game.

Other than that I'm very thankfull for my Sensei, he standed by me this last four years, and he's one of the best persons I met in my whole life. Even though he's not perfect, I care for him. Also I'm thankfull for my current job, that even though I play counter strike 70% of the time, they pay me, and with that I pay WoW and other activities ^^